AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Lawmakers outraged by allegations of sexual abuse of juvenile inmates and a coverup within the Texas Youth Commission promised to hold officials accountable and hinted they might try to take over the troubled agency.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” said Sen. John Whitmire, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. “There are no untouchables. We will not rest until this agency is shaken up from top to bottom.”

Lawmakers held an emotional hearing Tuesday in which they questioned agency staff about investigations that found high-ranking officials at the West Texas State School in Pyote had repeated sexual contact with inmates.

The Texas Youth Commission houses offenders ages 10 to 21 who are considered the most dangerous, incorrigible or chronic. The West Texas State School at the heart of the controversy houses 250 male inmates.

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